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Apple wins advert-skipping patent

Future iOS devices to switch to user’s own content when they detect unwanted ads?

21 August 2012/16:45BST

Apple has been awarded an interesting patent in the US – one which could allow future devices to essentially skip in-app audio or video adverts by automatically detecting them and playing your own music, video or podcast content instead.

The patent describes a mobile device able to automatically switch between broadcast content (i.e. a web radio station) and stored media. The automatic switching won’t be limited to ads, but they are one of the things mentioned.

We can’t see broadcasters who rely on ad revenue being particularly enamoured with such a system, should it ever appear – but it could prove a huge hit with the customer. Something to look out for in future Apple gadgets, perhaps…